A ética estoica no pensamento político de Sêneca

Abstract

The present research has a double purpose: firstly, to understand the Stoic ethics contained in Seneca's political thought, in a second moment, to highlight the conceptions of vices and virtues that are manifested in two works: The work De Ira where it is possible to observe the examples of bad ruler, and highlighting the vice conceptions found in the models of tyrant rulers expressed by Seneca. And the work De Clementia where it is possible to analyze the example of a good ruler, clarifying the necessary virtues for the formation of the princeps according to Seneca's Stoic morals. The work is organized in three moments. The first explains the definition of some key terms for understanding Stoic ethics. The second moment will deal with the analysis of the work De Ira, where Seneca in his three books demonstrates how the vices (vitium) deform the ruler making him a tyrant, emphasizing the addiction of anger, showing the destructive power of this passion (affectus), and explaining how it manifests itself in the soul through the assent of the will (voluntas), thus being alien to reason (ratio), as it does not suit human nature. The issue of extirpation of anger being avoided by precepts was also analyzed and, finally, the examples of tyrants highlighted by Seneca were highlighted. The third moment was aimed at understanding the importance of clemency (clementia) in the moral education of the princeps, its foundation based on Stoic philosophy and its functions and consequences for the good political exercise of the emperor. Intending, in this sense, to show how the virtue of clemency can help the prince in his government, guaranteeing both the proper functioning of the political body and the safeguarding of the happiness of its members and, ultimately, of the ruler himself.